Diocese urges urgent repair of Quezon’s ‘worst’ highways

February 4, 2025 - 9:26 AM
774
Bishop Euginius Cañete. (Diocese of Gumaca via CBCP News)

A Catholic diocese has issued an open letter urging the urgent repair and improvement of the primary highways in Quezon province, calling them the “worst” in the Calabarzon region.

Bishop Eugenius Cañete of Gumaca led the appeal, saying the state of the roads has brought “shame” to the province.

“We, the bishop, priests, religious, lay leaders, and the Filipino people, call for the improvement of the main highways in Quezon province,” Cañete said.

“As a community, we present this open letter because it is clear that the concerns of the people have not been heard, especially on social media,” he said.

The letter criticized what they called as “temporary fixes”, calling them as insufficient and lacking a long-term solution to the region’s worsening infrastructure problems.

The bishop also emphasized that the deteriorating roads are not just a transportation issue but a symptom of deeper political problems in the country.

“It reflects a political culture where survival in power is the primary agenda. The wealth of the nation is being used to sustain political control while neglecting the greater good, particularly for the most vulnerable,” he added.

Church leaders also called on various sectors of society to speak out and for faith communities to engage more actively in social discussions.

“We believe that the silence in the face of the people’s suffering must end. Our faith must have a voice in social issues,” they said.